If there’s no space occupied, it can’t be broken down into partitions. This is because the formatting is based on partitions, as opposed to disk space. Windows is unable to format an empty drive. If your drive is currently infected with malware, it could be put out of service by the attacker. Some attackers often target USB sticks to spread malware. If this is the case, you may consider purchasing a new drive as a replacement. Even if no direct damage is visible on the drive itself, it could be suffering from several internal damages. Not all drives can withstand the test of time. Remove the write-protection or use another disk.” then this is the most likely reason. You can easily test this by trying to copy something onto the drive. If you or another person applied write protection to the drive, you may not be able to format it, leading to the error. In rare cases, even malware can cause this error, especially if it’s on the drive itself. Most of the time, it is either related to poor system configuration, or an issue with your drive. There can be multiple different causes for this error. What causes the “Windows was unable to complete the format” error? “Windows was unable to complete the format” error solution.

What causes the “Windows was unable to complete the format” error?.Use our guide to troubleshoot the formatting issue within no more than a few minutes. This can happen for several different reasons - however, it’s nothing you can’t fix. You might run into the “Windows was unable to complete the format” error. If you're trying to format a removable drive, such as an SD card or USB drive.

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